DRAWING, MUSIC, PHYSICAL CULTURE, SEWING 341 



the children, and susceptible to the sentiment of the song, 



it is not difficult to establish this correspondence. The music 



lesson should always be a happy period. 



When singing there should be a natural erect position of 



the body with chest active and head up. If the chest is in- 

 active the breath is impeded, and if the head 



Position 



is down the chin presses upon the larynx, 



preventing its free action. In the motion songs and the 

 games of the primary grades there should be entire freedom 

 from self-consciousness. The more natural and spontane- 

 ous the play, the better for the music and the child. 



The breathing exercises may be given during the music 



lesson, or in connection with the physical culture, or at any 



time during the day when rest from the 



Exercises? study period is needed. The criterion for 



correct inspiration is " an increase in the size 



of the abdomen and lower part of the chest. Whoever 



draws in the abdomen and raises the upper part of the chest 



in the act of filling the lungs breathes wrongly." 



Simple vocal drills are introduced in the first year and 

 continued throughout the course in order to overcome the 



tendency of the ordinary child to scream 

 Vocal Drills * 



his notes and so as to secure pure, sweet, 



sympathetic singing. Loud, harsh singing not only injures 

 the throat but it emphasizes those very traits of character 

 that it should be the province of music to overcome. 



Sight reading does not mean simply a mental exercise of 

 reading from note to note. " Singing is the 



ojUuLY 



Reading expression of the emotions and not of the 



intellect," consequently sight reading should 



include the sentiment of the song as well as the mental 



